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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Some days here on my blog I give you a peek from my porch or a front row seat in my kitchen. Today, I'm opening up my heart.

My heart as a pastor's wife is a normal heart; it's just like yours. Oh, there may be more people crowded in there, but that's to be expected. You see those folks jumped in one by one as they entered the doors of our church. Some came as a result of coming to Christ. What a joy! Some came because they moved into the area. Others came because they were looking for a church that took a stand on the fundamentals on the Word of God. I'm sure some came because they were unhappy with something that happened in their former church. No matter, my husband and I opened our hearts and loved each one. They came into the church doors and entered our heart doors all at the same time.

We've spent more time with some than others. There were family hurts that needed biblical counsel. We cried with them over the trial and difficulties. We rejoiced when things were made right. There were physical issues, like surgeries and long recuperation that drew us to others' hospital rooms or homes so that we might pray and encourage with Scripture. We've had sweet fellowship with many - either at church as we worked on projects together, at a restaurant after a service or in our home. We've prayed for revival, for their particular ministry, and their families' needs. Our hearts were knit with theirs. You see, we have a heart, like yours, that loves those that we minister with and for.

A heart for the Church is what the Lord has given me in these 30 some years as a pastor's wife. Though I entered this role scared half to death and unsure of what to do, the Lord has taught me..."Just love people." Those are the words of encouragement He's given time and again when I didn't know what to do for them. However, there's a risk in that. The risk lies in being misunderstood, or of being misjudged. There's the risk of those that we love being misled and turning away from the Church and from us as a couple. Our hearts are at risk, and when folks walk out, it is painful. Some leave without ever coming and talking to us face to face. They "hear something" that is spread. They believe it. They never question it. They're gone - like a tumbleweed in a desert dust storm.

How painful that is. Today that pain led me to the cross (always the best place to take hurts). I was reminded that ALL forsook the Lord when He went to Calvary. We haven't been forsaken by all. Hardly. We have a wonderful group of people that are standing beside us, praying and interceding on our behalf. I am blessed.

This pain runs me to my Savior (always the best person with whom to share hurts). He understands being misjudged. He understands words being twisted. He understands friends forsaking friends. I am loved.

I nestle up close to Him and He reminds me of His steadfast love with the words of this song:

"I'll never forsake you, this pain will not break you,

For I will remake you for unending joy;

My promise is faithful though now it is painful;

No power can trample my covenant love."

Remember your Savior– His grief and His pain,

The lonely affliction, unmerited shame.

Though you had betrayed Him, He died in your place;

The joy set before Him He offers by grace.

Remember Your father– His promise, His love:

So, welcome to my heart today, but before you got here the Lord has been here, comforting and encouraging. I'm okay. I'm really okay... because I'm remembering His promise, His love!

To each of you, near and far, if you're a church member, please take special note to give your pastor and his wife the benefit of the doubt that you would want, if someone were talking about you. Go to your pastor - whoever he is and speak with him before you decide to leave. We don't deserve anything, but why not at least share what's on your heart to make sure it's accurate? They are FAR FROM PERFECT, but your pastor and his wife love you. You entered their hearts when you came. They'd love the chance to speak with you about whatever is on your heart.

A last reminder -

Proverbs 24:17 -

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.

With a bandaged, but healing heart,

5 comments:

Angie C.
said...

Please know that we share in your pain. I am so thankful for our loving Lord that eases that pain and gives peace in the midst of the storm! Love you!!

Sounds as though you're experiencing some of the trials of ministry. There are many blessings, but the trials are there too especially for the pastor's wife. I read in Psalm 119 recently regarding affliction...no matter its form, not always a bad thing. Maybe these verses will be comforting: Psalm 119:50,67,71. They comforted me!

When we take a tea bag, place it in a teacup, and fill the cup with hot water, the water activates the tea in the bag, unleashing its taste into the water around it.

The hot water didn't create the taste; it merely revealed, or drew out, what was already in the bag.

This depicts what happens in the human heart. The pressures around us (the unfavorable circumstances, the temptations, and the commands of God to love Him and our neighbor) merely draw out of our heart what is already in it.

We cannot blame the hot water for the taste in the cup. The contents of the tea bag determine the flavor of the tea. If we don't like the particular taste, we need to put into the water a bag containing a different kind of tea.

Similarly, we cannot shift the blame for any bitterness, anger, despair, deception, cruelty, and so forth that we display when we are under pressure. The pressures merely expose how unlike Christ we really are.

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About Me

Being a helpmeet to my husband is my first calling, given to me by the Creator of the family. I count it an honor to have served with him in the ministry these past 32 years. Though I didn't grow up in a "ministry" home, I grew up in a godly home where I accepted Christ as my Savior as a child. I watched my parents model love for Christ before me and I learned to love being in God's house and serving there. I love working in the ladies' ministry at BCBC and desire to help women understand, through the teaching of God's Word, their biblical role and find joy in obeying it.